Shigella infections that resist antibiotics have been rising since 2016. CDC estimates that about 242,000 of them happen in the United States each year.
What resistance means here
Antimicrobial resistance is what happens when germs such as bacteria and fungi develop the ability to defeat the drugs meant to kill them: the germs survive and keep growing. For Shigella, it means some antibiotics may not work, and a resistant infection:
- may be harder to treat;
- may cost more to treat;
- may last longer — which raises the chance of spreading it to other people.
Who is most at risk
Anyone can get a resistant Shigella infection, but the chances are higher for:
- international travelers;
- gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men;
- people with weakened immune systems, for example from HIV or chemotherapy.
If you are infected
Most people recover from Shigella without antibiotics. A healthcare provider can have a stool sample tested to see whether the infection resists antibiotics. If you are prescribed one, take it exactly as directed, and tell your provider if you don't feel better within a few days — more tests may show whether the infection is resistant.
Keeping others safe
| Hands | Wash carefully with soap and running water after using the toilet |
| Home | Stay home while sick. If you work in healthcare, childcare or food service, follow your local health department's guidance on when you can go back |
| Food | Don't prepare food for others while sick, if you can avoid it |
| Sex | Wait at least 2 weeks after diarrhea ends before vaginal, anal or oral sex. Shigella can stay in stool for several weeks, so use safer sex practices — or ideally avoid sex — for several weeks after recovering |
Sources
Based on "Antimicrobial Resistance and Shigella Infections," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; a work of the United States government in the public domain.
Licence: CC0 1.0 (public domain) · Adapted from www.cdc.gov
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